Handle for tank type suction cleaners or the like



May 29, 195l c. H. sPARKLlN 2,554,509

HANDLE FOR TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANERS 0R THE LIKE Filed Sept. 24, 1945 Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES Y TENT OFFICE HANDLE lFOR TANK PE :SUCTIQN 'CLEANERS OR THE LIKE Charles H. Sparklin, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Birtman Electric "Company, a corporation "of Illinois 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates .to a tank vtype Ksuction cleaner or the like, and particularly to an improved handle for such a cleaner.

Tank type cleaners are .adapted to rest on the floor during the cleaning operation, and to be dragged around from place to .place by means of .the nozzle hose. As these cleaners are of compact shape it is necessary that a handle be .provided so that they can be easily carried from room to room. The handles that have been pro- 7 posed heretofore project above the surface of the cleaner casing and break the symmetrical effect of the casing. l have invented a handle that blends into the cleaner casing when the handle is at rest, but which can be easily grasped and raised above the surface of the casing, so that the cleaned` can be moved from place 'to place. This new handle is of very simple construction,

and adds very little to the total weight of the I Fig. 2 and showing the handle in side elevation.

The tank type cleaner comprises a horizontal elongated casing Ill supported above the oor by means of wheels I I and a rest I2. Near the front of the casing is located an inlet opening I3, to which the nozzle tubing is to be attached. At the rear of the casing is located an outlet opening I4 to which a blower attachment may be affixed. On top of the cleaner there is placed a starter button I5, and the improved handle I6.

The handle I6 is preferably located above the center of gravity of the cleaner, and extends longitudinally to the casing. The handle comprises a substantially horizontal portion I'I, adapted to be grasped by the hand, and horizontal ears I8 extending from each end of the handles horizontal portion I'I. These ears I8 extend into cavities I9 that are also horizontal, and are formed in separate portions of the cleaner casing. These cavities are larger in cross-sectional area than the corresponding area of the ears. The handle is so arranged that the ears are raised to the top of the cavities when the handle is lifted, but sink within the cavities when the handle is released. The cavity-forming portions of the casing 20 extend above the main body portion of the casing so that the topfof the .handle and ythe top of the cavity-forming :portionsare substantially in one plane when the handle is lat rest. The handle extends between the cavityforming portions, and all lie longitudinally to the body of the cleaner.

In lorder to facilitate grasping of the handle at the top of the casing there are provided depressed portions 2i in the casing at either side ofy the handle, so that the handle may be .readily grasped when it is at rest. The portion v'of the rhandle to be grasped .is also made relatively thin. When the cleaner is lifted the :handle Ais pulled away from the mai-n body lportion I0 vof `the cleaner until the ears I8 engage the top of the cavities (Fig. 3). The cleaner can Vthen be carried to'la new location. As soon as the handle is released it sinks down into the `casing (Fig. 1) and the top o-f t-he handle is flush with the top of theV casing as shown in Fig. v1 and by dotted lines in Fig. `3.

As shown in the drawings, the handle assembly for the tank type cleaner that includes the elongated casing IG comprises a mounting structure attached to the top of the vacuum tank or casing I0 to provide an elongated ridge of substantially uniform width and height. This ridge, which includes a pair of hollow end members 20 and a central extensible handle member I1 positioned therebetween, is of substantially uniform width and height. The end members 20, as shown in the drawings, each have substantially vertical side walls 20a and a top wall 2b, with these walls of the respective end members terminating in respective spaced vertical planes to form U-shaped abutment surfaces 20c on each end of the member to dene vertical openings in the respective end members 20 and facing each other. The handle member Il fits snugly between these abutment Surfaces 2Go on the end members 20 and includes a central handgrip I'Ia, as shown in Fig. 1 and end portions I'Ib extending downwardly from the handgrip Ila to support the handgrip in spaced relation to the vacuum tank I0. These end portions have plane vertical end surfaces disposed substantially perpendicularly to the handgrip, with each of these end surfaces being adjacent to and engaging a corresponding abutment surface 2Go of one of the end members 20. Each end portion has adjacent the bottom thereof a horizontal rigid ear i8 parallel to and directed away from each end of the handgrip I'Ia. Each ear I8 extends into the opening in the adjacent end member 20 with each of these ears being of a vertical thickness considerably less than the height of the opening into which it extends so as to permit limited vertical movement of the handle member when the vacuum cleaner is lifted. The bottom surface of each downwardly extending end portion llb rests on the top of the vacuum tank or casing I when the handle is in its retracted position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rigid ears engage the bottom surfaces of the top walls 20h of the respective end members 20 when the handle member is extended, as shown in Fig."

3. As is shown in Fig. 2, the structure on either side of the handgrip I'la is depressed as indicated at 2l in order to facilitate gripping of the handgrip I'Ia. f

Having described my invention in detail, it is my intention that the invention be not limited to these details of description, but rather be construed broadly Within its spirit and scope, as set out in the accompanying claim.

I claim:

A handle assembly for a tank type vacuum cleaner having an elongated casing, said handle assembly comprising a mounting structure attached to the top of the vacuum tank and providing an elongated ridge of substantially uniform width and height, said ridge extending longitudinally of the elongated casing and including a pair of spaced hollow end members and a central extensible handle member positioned therebetween, said end members each having vertical side walls and a top wall, the walls of the respective end members terminating in respective spaced vertical planes to form an inverted U-shaped abutment surface on each end member, said abutment surfaces dening vertical openings in the respective end members with said openings facing each other, said handle member tting snugly between said abutment surfaces and having a central handgrip and end portions extending downwardly from said handgrip to support the handgrip in spaced relation to the vacuum tank, said end portions having plane vertical end surfaces disposed perpendicularly to the handgrip, each of said end surfaces being adjacent to and engaging a corresponding abutment Surface of one of said end members, each end portion having adjacent the bottom thereof a horizontal rigid ear parallel to and directed away from each end of the handgrip, each ear extending into the opening in the adjacent end member, each of said ears being of a vertical thickness considerably less than the height of the opening into which it extends so as to permit limited vertical movement of the handle member when the vacuum cleaner is lifted, the bottom surface of each downwardly extending end portion resting on the top of the vacuum tank when the handle is in its retracted position and the rigid ears engaging the bottom surfaces of the top walls of the respective end members when the handle member is extended, said structure on either side of said handgrip being depressed in order to facilitate grasping of the handgrip.

' CHARLES H. SPARKLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i'lle of this patent:

UNITED STATESY PATENTS 

